A mixed day for Indians at India Open Super Series 2014

Parupalli Kashyap

On the second day of the Yonex Sunrise Indian Open being played at the Siri Fort Complex stadium, Indians had a mixed day. In the men’s singles Parupalli Kashyap beat Guru Sai Dutt, but it was curtains for the doubles pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and Jwala Gutta, who lost in the second round to the Chinese pair of Qing Tian and Yuneli Zhao in straight sets 21-12, 21-17.

The Chinese pair played with great coordination against the Indians. The second set saw a much closer game than the first – at one stage both the teams were locked at 17-17 – but in the end the Chinese took the second game and with that the match too.

The women’s singles match was the centre of the attraction in which Saina Nehwal was pitted against qualifier from Thailand Natcha Saengchote. Saina won the match in straight sets, 21-15 and 21-10. She played some brilliant strokes which tired her opponent.

After that match it was the turn of Sayali Gokhale against Yeon Ju Bae. In the first set Sayali was leading at one stage, but seemingly due to her lack of experience she lost the match in straight sets, 21-15 and 21-8.

Lee Chong Wei faced Sourabh Varma and the champion showed his class. He did not allow Sourabh to settle at all, and finally took the match 21-9 and 21-6. Lee Chong Wei was fierce with his smash, and he played the net shots brilliantly.